Just had full rewire done, cables very close to surface or coming through skim

[rich888]

we just had a full rewire done on a 1920's property. Electrics been completed and signed off with certificate. Making good on wall chase areas done by plasterer hired by electrician. We have just come to decorating and found that in a few areas the cables haven't been chased deep enough and are covered by a very thin skim of plaster, some actually visible through plaster. Has this been a bodge job? shouldn't the cables be capped off with a metal plate or chased to a deeper level?

download_20161222_124121 — Postimage.org - https://postimg.org/image/66nq4wbr1/

 

[rich888]

Had another spark in this morning. Had a good look over the work and all seems like an okay job overall, correct cabling, proper labeling etc. But just on this wall and possibly one other he didn't really chase at all and nowhere near deep enough for our liking so we are going to get that changed.
He was registered and recommended by friends but i think in the end it turned into a bigger job than expected and plasterer took a few shortcuts. In hindsight i would have liked it chased deeper with capping but it's our first place so still learning.

 

[Midwest]

Capping (metal or plastic) only protects cables from the plasterers trowel and is not a form of recognised mechanical protection. As long as the cables are in the correct zone and are RCD protected then they are electrically compliant. Not sure about the reg that mentions workmanship tho.

Its one of those 'Good or Poor Practise' things dependant on standpoint.

 

[buzzlightyear]

in that case you could chase to the side of the cable and remove the new plaster chase I bit deeper
one coat plaster on, job done . capping is not going to stop a drill or nails.
its their to hold the cable in place and clips.

 

[LankyWill]

i was taught you could run cables out of zone if mechanically protected with suitable heavy duty metal plate, how else does everyone protect meter tails and oddly placed gas bonds?

 

[buzzlightyear]

it depends where the consumer is situated .the meter tails should not be longer then 2 meters
from the meter if you have meter tails from meter external to internal then you should box in.
has for bonding depends how you run it .new build area a nightmare most consumer are put in garages
and depends on the spec.

 

[richy3333]

it depends where the consumer is situated .the meter tails should not be longer then 2 meters
from the meter if you have meter tails from meter external to internal then you should box in.
has for bonding depends how you run it .new build area a nightmare most consumer are put in garages
and depends on the spec.

What's the Reg for that or is it a Part Peeeee thingy?

 

[Octopus]

2 metres is not correct imho

 

[Wilko]

2 metres is not correct imho

Agree, there is no reg at 2m that I'm aware of, but I'm always happy to learn
Assuming the service fuse is not to be relied upon by the consumer, I read reg 433.2.2 as giving 3m between cable ccc change and protective device.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Association of Meter Operators - Stakeholder Info - https://www.meteroperators.org.uk/stakeholder-info

https://www.dcusa.co.uk/Documents/De-Energisation - FAQ Document v 1 0.pdf#search=de-energisationj

 

[hightower]

i was taught you could run cables out of zone if mechanically protected with suitable heavy duty metal plate, how else does everyone protect meter tails and oddly placed gas bonds?

In our new build the tails run about 8m. The run in the wall where it goes up to the ceiling void is protected by metal capping that is bonded.

As for gas bonds etc, do they need to be in a zone? I know it'll be classed as 'good practice' to do so, but they aren't a live cable so do they strictly need to be installed in a zone?

 

[telectrix]

As for gas bonds etc, do they need to be in a zone? I know it'll be classed as 'good practice' to do so, but they aren't a live cable so do they strictly need to be installed in a zone?

debateable. i would say yes, run in zones, basically to protect from damage by drilling etc. this could potentially lose a bond to extraneous services.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I don't have the byb on me as not at home but iirc the relevant reg (522 something I believe) specifies a bs number that the earthed metallic containment must meet the requirements of as it's expected to be penetrated hence having to meet the requirements of a protective conductor. From my point of view earthed metallic capping is not satisfactory. One other option the reg gives us is that if the cable is burried in a wall at a depth of less than 50mm then RCD protection can be ommited if it has sufficient mechanical protection to stop the penetration of nails screws and the likes of.

In the absence of a relevant product standard, e.g. British Standard, the designer should obtain suitable evidence from the manufacturer that any product selected for the purpose is suitable to prevent penetration by nails, screws and the like.

As an example, steel of 3 mm minimum thickness is generally considered to provide sufficient mechanical protection, except where shot-fired nails or similar fixing methods are likely to be used. I did post a video once from clarkson Evans which shows some thick metal capping that he drills, hitting a nail through etc to no avail but can't seem to find it. The key thing is that sufficient mechanical protection doesn't need earthing where as other methods require earthing.....Cables can be run out of zones as long as they have sufficient mechanical protection.

 

[westward10]

In our new build the tails run about 8m. The run in the wall where it goes up to the ceiling void is protected by metal capping that is bonded.

As for gas bonds etc, do they need to be in a zone? I know it'll be classed as 'good practice' to do so, but they aren't a live cable so do they strictly need to be installed in a zone?

Never assume a bonding conductor will not be live even though in normal circumstances it is not.

 

[Wilko]

I don't have the byb on me as not at home but iirc the relevant reg (522 something I believe) specifies a bs number that the earthed metallic containment must meet the requirements of as it's expected to be penetrated hence having to meet the requirements of a protective conductor.

Hi - yes, it's 522.6.204 that refers to an earthed conduit (per BS EN 61386-21) or trunking (per BS EN 50085-2-1) for cables in walls to avoid RCD. Or use SWA (per BS5467 +).

There is option to use a mechanical protection that is not to a BS, but we would be responsible to ensure it was at least as good as the protection offered by the others. I think conduit was 1/8" wall thickness which became 3mm in metric land which may be origin of Lee's "steel of 3mm min" recommendation (?) . But not having any conduit to hand (shocking admission) this could be complete rubbish

 

[sparksburnout]

I did post a video once from clarkson Evans which shows some thick metal capping that he drills, hitting a nail through etc to no avail but can't seem to find it.

You did indeed Lee, I nearly got some but it was a bit pricey, in the end I got a local smithy to cut me some lengths of 4mm plate steel, does a good job as well.